mitch mcconnell says higher taxes won't solve that problem. >> this is partisan politics. this is not an option. raising tax rates would destroy 700,000 jobs >> reporter: on this day, the president met with labor and progressive leaders since the day after his re-election that he opposed cuts to medicare and social security benefits. >> the president is committed to making sure that the middle class and the workers are paying the tax for parties we didn't get to. >> reigning in cost of medicare and medicaid is essential to controlling the deficit. mr. obama offered $34 billion a year in savings. republicans don't think it's enough. and they're demanding to be part of the solution. >> the venters also -- the voters also have republican controlled house and closely divided senate. in a government of three equal branchs, that is hardly irrelevant. >> at the white house, despite the seeming impasse over the bush tax cut, carney insists there is flexibility dealing with the deficit. >> i don't think the president is in a position of boxing ourselves in, or boxing others out. he